Method for manufacturing a multi-layer composite, arrangement for positioning a sheet-like element onto a backing in a laminating unit

Abstract

A method and an arrangement for manufacturing a multi-layer composite ( 13 ) by laminating a sheet-like element ( 6 ) onto a backing ( 2 ) in a laminating unit ( 1 ), having steps, in this order, of conveying the element ( 6 ) in a longitudinal direction, detecting a position of the element ( 6 ), correcting the position of the element ( 6 ) on the basis of the detected position and on the basis of a reference position ( 15 ), and bonding said element ( 6 ) onto the backing ( 2 ). The detection step comprises the phases of measuring the lateral position, an angle of pivoting, and a longitudinal position of the element ( 6 ), and the correction step includes phases of lateral movement (T), pivoting (P), and longitudinal movement (L) of the element ( 6 ), apparatus elements perform the steps.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A laminating method for manufacturing a multi-layer composite in a laminating unit comprising, in this order, the steps of:
 conveying a sheet element in a longitudinal direction in the laminating unit toward a laminating section, 
 conveying a backing in the longitudinal direction in the laminating unit toward a laminating section, 
 detecting a position of the sheet element comprising phases of measuring a lateral position, an angle of pivoting, and a longitudinal position of the sheet element with reference to at least one of the longitudinal direction and the laminating unit, 
 correcting the position of the sheet element on a first basis of the detected position and on a second basis of a reference position, the correcting step comprising the phases of lateral movement, pivoting movement, and longitudinal movement of said sheet element, and 
 bonding the sheet element onto the backing by laminating the sheet element onto the backing in the laminating unit, 
 wherein the reference position is related to the position of the backing, and wherein the sheet element and the backing are discrete bodies. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising performing successive phases between the conveying step and the bonding step:
 the detecting is by measuring the lateral position of the element and then moving the element laterally responsive to the detected and reference positions, 
 the detecting is by measuring the longitudinal position of the element with reference to the laminating unit and then moving the element longitudinally responsive to the detected and reference position, and the detecting is further by measuring the angle of pivoting of the element and then pivoting the element responsive to the detected and reference positions. 
 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising a step of accelerating the element, during the phases of pivoting and longitudinal movement of the element to cause the element to accelerate from a conveying speed to a bonding speed higher than the conveying speed. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising a step of holding the element, positioned before the conveying step, and a step of releasing the element positioned after the start of the bonding step. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the backing comprises separate backing elements, each for having a respective one of the elements laminated to it; the method further comprising a step of accelerating and of decelerating the backing element, so as to create a gap between each backing element upstream and a next backing element downstream in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising a step of detecting a position of the backing, and calculating the reference position according to the detected position of the backing, this step being performed after the step of conveying the backing in the longitudinal direction and before the step of correcting the position of the element. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the detection step comprises reading one or more edges of the element or printed marks on the element, each in lateral or longitudinal direction. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the detection step comprises reading one or more edges of the backing or printed marks on the backing, each in lateral or longitudinal direction. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising a step of holding the element, positioned before the conveying step, and a step of releasing the element positioned after the start of the bonding step. 
     
     
       10. A laminating method for manufacturing a multi-layer composite in a laminating unit comprising, in this order, the steps of:
 conveying a sheet element in a longitudinal direction in the laminating unit, 
 conveying a backing in the longitudinal direction in the laminating unit, 
 detecting a position of the sheet element comprising phases of measuring a lateral position, an angle of pivoting, and a longitudinal position of the sheet element with reference to at least one of the longitudinal direction and the laminating unit, 
 correcting the position of the sheet element on a first basis of the detected position and on a second basis of a reference position, the correcting step comprising the phases of lateral movement, pivoting movement, and longitudinal movement of said sheet element, 
 bonding the sheet element onto the backing by laminating the sheet element onto the backing in the laminating unit, and 
 detecting a position of the backing, and calculating the reference position according to the detected position of the backing, this step being performed after the step of conveying the backing in the longitudinal direction and before the step of correcting the position of the element and 
 wherein the sheet element and the backing are discrete bodies. 
 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the detection step comprises reading one or more edges of the backing or printed marks on the backing, each in lateral or longitudinal direction. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the position of the sheet element is corrected based on a reference position related to the position of a discrete body.